Cops: Michigan man tries to burn postal truck, blames Trump, eviction

Giovanni Jose May, 23, walked into the Milford Police Department shortly after 3:30 a.m. March 8 and allegedly told police he tried to burn a postal truck with a lighter fluid-soaked ankle sock.

Author:
Sharon Dargay, hometownlife.com , WZZM

Published:
7:20 AM EDT March 18, 2017

Updated:
7:20 AM EDT March 18, 2017

Giovanni Jose May, 23, walked into the Milford Police Department shortly after 3:30 a.m. March 8 and allegedly told police he tried to burn a postal truck with a lighter fluid-soaked ankle sock.

According to a police report, May said he stuffed the sock into the opening of the truck's gas tank five to eight minutes earlier, lit it and waited for an explosion. After the burning sock fell to the ground the Milford man walked next door to the police department.

May was arraigned March 9 in 52/1 District Court before Magistrate Michael Batchik on a felony charge of attempted arson. He’s currently in the Oakland County jail.

He allegedly told police he initially considered setting a police car on fire but decided the postal vehicle might also spark other nearby trucks, causing a chain reaction. Police say the suspect also told them he wanted to go to jail, and that he knew setting a postal truck on fire would be a federal offense.

Police reportedly recovered a sock and melted gas cap at the scene.

“He said he has nothing against the post office and he just felt like burning a vehicle,” the report stated.

But police also say that during an interview with a detective May allegedly said voices in his head may or may not have triggered his actions. According to the report, he told the detective that the idea popped up and he started searching for bomb-making instructions on his phone.

“May stated he recently found out he was going to be evicted and he didn’t know if he was just angry and wanted to release his anger, but he decided he was going to blow up a mail truck,” the report stated.

May also allegedly said it was “stupid” that the government allowed Donald Trump to serve as president and that he didn’t like police arresting individuals without cause. Asked if Trump’s election had pushed him over the edge, May allegedly stated “a little bit.”

Police said they found similar ankle socks and lighter fluid at May’s residence, which he shared with a roommate. They also found a note addressed to May, allegedly signed by his roommate, that said they both had to move out of the home by April 1. Another note was aimed at his employer. According to police, the note apologized “for doing this,” and said “the voices are stronger and stronger and eventually I would end up doing something far more stupid then I’ve already done.”